Experience Countryside of Iceland by Horseback Riding

Icelandic horses are small, sturdy, and famously sure-footed, and this ride gives you a close look at their special tölt gait in open country near Þorlákshöfn. I like the personal feel of a group capped at 12, and I like that the guides match the pace to the least experienced rider. A possible drawback is that weather and season can change the route, so a promised beach ride is not guaranteed.

I also like the human touch. Magnus and Maggi are praised for calm instruction, good humor, and coffee after the ride, while Sigrún has helped guide mixed groups. The main caution is communication: some accounts describe limited English, and one poor experience involved a late start and a shortened ride, so confirm timing and language before you go.

Key points to know before you book

• Ride the Icelandic tölt: Your horse may show its unusual four-beat gait, a smooth movement that feels different from an ordinary walk or trot.
• Explore Þorlákshöfn’s open country: Depending on conditions, you may ride beside beaches, over grassy banks, across moorland, or near lava fields with mountains beyond.
• Beginner-friendly pacing: Guides keep the group together and do not move faster than the least confident rider.
• Small group, personal instruction: The maximum group size is 12, with helmets and riding equipment supplied.
• Pickup saves planning time: Round-trip transfers are offered from central Reykjavik hotels, with the stable about 45 minutes from the capital.
• Expect a simple farm experience: This is about horses and countryside, not polished resort facilities. Coffee and conversation may follow the ride, but facilities and equipment can feel basic.

Why this ride feels different from a Reykjavik day tour

From Reykjavik, many outings send you toward waterfalls, geothermal areas, or the famous South Coast. This one changes the pace. You are not simply looking at Iceland through a bus window. You are sitting on an Icelandic horse and moving through the countryside at ground level.

The setting is Þorlákshöfn, a small fishing village on Iceland’s South Coast, about 30 kilometers from Reykjavik. The drive takes roughly 45 minutes, so the outing works well as a half-day activity that leaves room for other plans in the capital.

The scenery is broad and open. You might see beach views, tall grass banks, lava fields, moors, and mountains. The exact route depends on weather and the season. That flexibility matters in Iceland, where wind, rain, footing, and daylight can change quickly.

I like this kind of outing for people who want scenery without another crowded attraction. You get a quieter look at the country, though you should not book it expecting a fixed photo route or a guaranteed beach crossing.

Meeting the horses near Þorlákshöfn

The stable is at Alhestar, Faxabraut 6, 815 Þorlákshöfn. If you use the advertised transfer, you can be collected from a central Reykjavik hotel and returned there after the activity. The ride itself ends back at the meeting point.

At the stable, you receive a helmet and riding equipment. The tour includes snacks, but you need to bring your own sturdy shoes and warm, comfortable clothes. That is not a minor point. Icelandic weather can feel cold even when the calendar says summer, and a ride across open ground gives wind plenty of room to find you.

The horses are the heart of the experience. The material supplied for the tour does not promise a particular breed for each rider, but the activity centers on Icelandic horses and their distinctive abilities. Several accounts describe the horses as calm and well cared for, with guides taking time to help people who had little or no riding experience.

You should expect a practical stable setting rather than a glossy equestrian center. One account praised the plain, horse-focused nature of the place. Another criticized older equipment and untidy surroundings. That difference tells you what to expect: the appeal is the ride and the people, not luxury presentation.

A useful first lesson for complete beginners

You do not need advanced riding experience. The tour is designed for beginners as well as experienced riders, and the guides adjust the outing to match the group.

That usually means learning the basics before setting off: how to sit, how to control the horse, and how to respond to simple instructions. One particularly useful detail is the group policy. The guides keep everyone together and do not go faster than the slowest rider.

For a nervous first-time rider, that can make the difference between enjoying the morning and spending it worrying about being left behind. The accounts involving Maggi and Magnus repeatedly describe calm help with mounting, steering, and safety. One first-time rider was especially reassured by Maggi’s patient approach.

Experienced riders should set their expectations carefully. This is not advertised as a fast, technical riding lesson or a private training session. You may get a chance to experience the tölt, and stronger riders may receive more freedom when conditions and group ability allow, but the pace is governed by the whole group.

That is fair and sensible. If your party includes both a confident rider and someone on a first horse ride, the stronger rider will need to accept a gentler outing.

Discovering the tölt on an Icelandic horse

The tölt is one of the main reasons to choose an Icelandic horse ride. It is a distinctive four-beat gait that can feel smooth and steady compared with a normal trot.

The opportunity to try or watch the tölt depends on the horse, the route, the guide, and the ability of the group. One account describes seeing another rider demonstrate the gait, while another says an experienced rider was allowed to ride at the tölt. Treat it as a possible highlight, not a guaranteed part of every outing.

The guides appear to take safety seriously. Maggi is described as checking that riders understood how to control their horses and keeping the group together. Magnus is praised for teaching people over several rides and using the horses themselves as part of the learning process.

For you, the value is not just speed. The tölt gives you a better sense of what makes Icelandic horses special. Even if you spend most of the time walking, you still get to handle a breed closely tied to Icelandic farming and riding culture.

Crossing beaches, lava fields, and grassy moors

The route is not fixed. On a favorable day, the ride may include beach views, grassy banks, moorland, or lava fields. Some accounts describe riding over pastures and moors, while others refer to black sand beach, dunes, and lava terrain.

That variety is the strongest reason to choose this tour over a basic paddock ride. You are not confined to a small fenced circuit. The countryside around Þorlákshöfn gives the horses room, and the changing ground makes the ride feel like a real outing rather than a short amusement.

Still, do not build your whole Iceland itinerary around a specific scene. The official route changes with the weather and season. One account specifically complained that the group stayed in a field behind the village and did not reach the beach. That criticism is important because the tour title and description may create a stronger expectation of coastal riding than the conditions can always deliver.

I would book this for the chance to ride through open Icelandic country, not for one guaranteed beach photograph. If the beach is essential to your plan, ask about the expected route on the day.

The people can shape the whole experience

The human side of this activity receives some of the warmest praise. Magnus and Maggi are described as friendly, patient, and genuinely comfortable around horses. Coffee after the ride appears to be offered on some occasions, giving the outing a more personal farm visit feel.

That coffee is not listed as a formal inclusion, so do not count on it as part of the contract. But it helps explain why the experience can feel less like a standard timed excursion and more like meeting people who have spent their lives with horses.

Sigrún is also named as one of the instructors. Mixed groups have included an experienced rider and a novice, with the guides adjusting their help to each person. That flexibility is useful if your party has uneven riding ability.

Language is the main concern. Some accounts say the guides did not speak much English, though riders still managed through gestures and translation tools. For basic safety instructions, you need to be sure you understand what is being said. Ask in advance who will lead your ride and what level of English support will be available.

Most accounts describe the guides as attentive, but one account reports a 45-minute delay, a guide who did not speak English, and a tour that stopped halfway. That is not the usual picture presented by the available material, but it is serious enough to justify confirming the pickup time and expected ride length.

How much riding do you really get?

The advertised duration is about three hours. That includes the full activity, not necessarily three continuous hours in the saddle. Some descriptions of the ride itself refer to about two hours on horseback.

The rest may include transfers, preparation, mounting, instruction, and time at the stable. This is normal for a beginner-friendly riding tour, but it is worth understanding before you compare prices.

A shorter riding time can actually suit first-time riders. Sitting on a horse for several hours may leave an inexperienced rider sore, especially in cold or windy weather. More confident riders who want a long, active trail ride may find the pace and total riding time less satisfying.

The group maximum of 12 is a useful limit. It is not a private ride, but it should allow more direct help than a large commercial outing. The guides promise to adapt the ride to the group, so expect a shared experience rather than a custom route for each person.

Is $207 a fair price?

At $207, this is not a cheap way to fill a spare morning. The value comes from several services bundled together: a roughly three-hour activity, riding equipment, snacks, and round-trip transportation from central Reykjavik hotels.

Transport matters in Iceland. Without it, you would need to reach Þorlákshöfn yourself, and the stable is about 45 minutes from Reykjavik. For a solo visitor or anyone without a rental car, the transfer can make the price easier to accept.

The small group also adds value. A maximum of 12 gives you a better chance of receiving help with your horse than you would on a much larger ride. The strongest part of the experience is the personal instruction and the chance to see open country from horseback.

The price is harder to justify if you expect polished facilities, guaranteed beach riding, fluent English commentary, or a long period at a faster pace. One account considered the equipment outdated and the ride too limited for the cost. I would think of this as a people-and-horses experience with transport, not as a luxury excursion.

For a party of several people, ask whether pickup from your exact accommodation is included. Central hotel transfer is advertised, while one account describes an Airbnb pickup for an extra fee.

Who should book this ride?

This outing suits you if:

• You are a first-time rider who wants patient instruction.
• You want to see Icelandic countryside without driving.
• You like small, informal activities more than polished attractions.
• You are interested in Icelandic horses and the tölt.
• Your group includes mixed riding abilities.
• You can stay flexible about the route and weather.

It may not suit you if you need a guaranteed beach ride, a luxury stable, a fast canter, or a detailed English-speaking nature talk. It is also a poor fit if you dislike cold, wind, mud, or the basic routines of a working horse property.

Bring warm layers and good shoes. Do not rely on the included equipment to solve every comfort problem, especially since one account raised concerns about its age. You should also be prepared for a route that changes at short notice.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

Confirmation is provided when you book. The activity allows service animals, and a moderate level of physical fitness is required. The supplied information does not give a weight limit or detailed mobility guidance, so ask the operator directly if either matters to you.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather prevents the ride, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of riders is not reached.

Because the tour depends on weather and a minimum group size, keep some flexibility in your Iceland schedule. It is wiser to place this activity early enough in your trip that you still have room to reschedule.

Should you book Alhestar Horse Rental and Tours?

I would book this if you want a friendly, low-pressure introduction to Icelandic horses and are happy to trade polish for a more personal farm setting. The calm instruction, small group, possible tölt, and open country near Þorlákshöfn give it real appeal.

I would not book it solely for a guaranteed beach ride or a high-end equestrian setup. Before paying, confirm the pickup location, expected riding time, guide language, and likely route. If those details suit you, this can be one of the more memorable ways to spend a half-day near Reykjavik.

FAQ

Where does the horseback ride take place?

The ride takes place around Þorlákshöfn, a small fishing village on Iceland’s South Coast about 30 kilometers from Reykjavik.

How long does the activity last?

The tour lasts about three hours in total. Some descriptions refer to roughly two hours of riding within that time.

Is pickup from Reykjavik available?

Yes. Round-trip transfers are offered from central Reykjavik hotels. Pickup from other accommodation, such as an Airbnb, may involve an extra fee, so confirm before booking.

What kind of scenery might I see?

Depending on the weather and season, the route may include beaches, tall grass banks, lava fields, moors, dunes, and mountain views.

Can a beginner join?

Yes. The activity is suitable for beginners and experienced riders. The guides adjust the route and pace to the group’s ability.

Will the group ride fast?

The guides do not go faster than the slowest rider. The pace is set by the least experienced or least confident person in the group.

What is the Icelandic horse’s tölt?

The tölt is a distinctive gait associated with Icelandic horses. You may have a chance to experience it, depending on the horse, conditions, and group ability.

What equipment is included?

Helmets and riding equipment are included. You need to bring good shoes and warm, comfortable clothing.

What is the group size?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the activity to be canceled, you are offered a different date or a full refund.